Downtown theater to reopen soon with new everything

Published: Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 05:55 PM.

FORT WALTON BEACH — Cinema Plus will reopen June 6 with a new owner, new projection system and a reworked business plan.

James Coleman of Navarre purchased Cinema Plus after the historic theater announced in late April it would be closing.

“I see this as a business decision as well as an opportunity to put something back that meant a lot to the community, especially this community,” Coleman said. “I want to see the downtown area of Fort Walton Beach thrive.”

The iconic downtown location has housed a movie theater for most of the past 75 years. It originally opened as the Tringas Theater in 1940 and was later known as Suds n Cinema.

Coleman is in the process of replacing the theater’s old film projection system, which is more than 25 years old, and replacing it with new state-of-the-art digital sound and projection equipment.

“The new equipment is going to change the entire atmosphere as soon as you walk-in. It will be just like a major movie theater – it will be an event,” Coleman said.

The theater will now have first run movies sooner than ever before. It is expected that new releases will be shown as soon as two weeks after the original release.

Moviegoers will be able to plan their dinner around the movie and be seated at tables were wait staff will take food orders. Other than the traditional popcorn and soda, there will be pizza, subs, wings, quesadillas, beer and wine on the menu.

Cinema Plus will soon be taking reservations for birthday parties, special events, recitals, parties, receptions and field trips for area schools and daycares.

Coleman is no stranger to Fort Walton Beach. He has been a Navarre resident since 1995, and has been active as an umpire and referee officiating baseball, football and basketball in Fort Walton Beach.

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FORT WALTON BEACH — Cinema Plus will reopen June 6 with a new owner, new projection system and a reworked business plan.

James Coleman of Navarre purchased Cinema Plus after the historic theater announced in late April it would be closing.

“I see this as a business decision as well as an opportunity to put something back that meant a lot to the community, especially this community,” Coleman said. “I want to see the downtown area of Fort Walton Beach thrive.”

The iconic downtown location has housed a movie theater for most of the past 75 years. It originally opened as the Tringas Theater in 1940 and was later known as Suds n Cinema.

Coleman is in the process of replacing the theater’s old film projection system, which is more than 25 years old, and replacing it with new state-of-the-art digital sound and projection equipment.

“The new equipment is going to change the entire atmosphere as soon as you walk-in. It will be just like a major movie theater – it will be an event,” Coleman said.

The theater will now have first run movies sooner than ever before. It is expected that new releases will be shown as soon as two weeks after the original release.

Moviegoers will be able to plan their dinner around the movie and be seated at tables were wait staff will take food orders. Other than the traditional popcorn and soda, there will be pizza, subs, wings, quesadillas, beer and wine on the menu.

Cinema Plus will soon be taking reservations for birthday parties, special events, recitals, parties, receptions and field trips for area schools and daycares.

Coleman is no stranger to Fort Walton Beach. He has been a Navarre resident since 1995, and has been active as an umpire and referee officiating baseball, football and basketball in Fort Walton Beach.